Thursday, October 31, 2013

Congratulations to Arden Writing Student, ABBY DOUGAN!


Congratulations to Arden Reading Academy student, ABBY DOUGAN!!!!! 

Abby won the GRAND PRIZE in the Aquarium of the Pacific's Story Writing Contest for her story about a fun-loving penguin named Tux and his animal-loving owner named Todd.

Abby has worked so hard this past year on her writing skills and her improvement is evident. Congratulations, Abby!!! We are so proud of you!!!

For her Grand Prize win, Abby has won the following:

* A family 4-pack of tickets to the Aquarium of the Pacific

* A penguin meet and greet with one of our Magellanic Penguins

* A Field trip for your whole class to the Aquarium of the Pacific (50 people max, bus and admission included)

Milena Acosta
Outreach Supervisor
Aquarium of the Pacific

To see her adorable story, simply click below. (She even typed it herself!) So proud of this special student!!!

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Aquarium of the Pacific | Penguin Chick Story-Writing Contest

The Aquarium of the Pacific invites students from Orange County to compete in a story-writing contest about penguins. Contest winners will receive four free tickets to the Aquarium of the Pacific.

Story-Writing Contest Prizes


GRADES 3 – 5

One winner from this grade category will receive four tickets to the Aquarium of the Pacific and a behind-the-scenes encounter with a penguin.

GRADES 6 – 8
One winner from this grade category will receive four tickets to the Aquarium of the Pacific and a behind-the-scenes encounter with a penguin.

GRADES 9 – 12
One winner from this grade category will receive four tickets to the Aquarium of the Pacific and a behind-the-scenes encounter with a penguin.

Meet Heidi, our newest Magellanic Penguin

Heidi hatched at the Aquarium in June and spent her first month behind-the-scenes. Now that Heidi has replaced her downy newborn feathers with water-tight adult feathers, she has joined her parents and the other penguins in the June Keyes Penguin Habitat. Heidi will eventually grow to be two-and-a-half feet tall and weigh between six and fifteen pounds. Magellanic Penguins, like Heidi’s parents Roxy and Floyd, spend their time on rocky and sandy beaches, like those on the coast of Brazil, where Roxy was rescued. They dive into chilly water in search of squid, fish, and krill. At the Aquarium, you can watch our penguins waddle around their rocky habitat and swim gracefully through the water. You can also see them on our live penguin webcam and see how they spend their days.


Story Contest Guidelines


Are you inspired by Heidi, her parents, and all of our Magellanic Penguins? If so, tell us your penguin story. Below are suggestions on what components make a good story:

  • a beginning, middle, and end
  • a central event, like a conflict or discovery
  • characters who change or learn a lesson
  • illustrations that help tell the tale

Stories must be original pieces, have a penguin theme, and be no longer than 500 words. Stories must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. PST on October 19, 2013. Only one entry per person will be accepted. Winners will be notified via e-mail by November 1, 2013.

Judging

Our panel of judges will select the most creative, well-written, inspiring, and compelling penguin stories. All decisions are in the judges’ complete discretion and are final.

For More Information: http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/penguincontest